Corporate Spotlight: Samsung Electronics Digital Media & Communications (DMC) R&D

May 19, 2015 03:56 PM EST By: Regina Ramazzini

TechConnect interviews Ophelia Young, Manager, Technology Scouting and University Collaboration, Samsung Electronics Digital Media & Communications (DMC) R&D

  Samsung Ophelia Yeung

What are technology/solution areas that you have a primary interest in?

Within Samsung Electronics, we look for disruptive solutions that could help Samsung deliver enhanced value and competitiveness of our consumer electronics and home appliance products. Some areas of interest are:
  • Sensors – image / gesture / biometric sensor, gas sensor, electro-chemical sensor, CMOS sensor, electric dermal activity (EDA), emotion sensor
  • Power solutions – fast / wireless charging, ultra-low power computing, energy harvesting
  • Image processing – real-time video stitching software, camera solutions
  • Device – computer vision, device interaction
  • Materials – 2D materials (grapheme, dichalcogenides, etc.), advanced functional materials (anti-freezing, antibacterial, oleo phobic, and UV coatings), battery, flexible and stretchable materials, new concept home appliance devices, large form factor display solutions
  • Communications and network – communication technologies (5G, backhaul, etc.)
  • 3D printing – industrial 3D printing
  • AI – anticipatory computing, deep learning, natural language understanding
  • What level of commercial maturity do you typically look for in technology partnerships?

    We generally look across the spectrum from early-stage university R&D projects to commercially ready and licensable solutions. Different Samsung units tend to have different requirements. For example, Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) primarily licenses TRL 3 / TRL 4 technologies and funds R&D collaboration with university partners under its Global Research Outreach (GRO) program. While breakthrough technologies with developed prototypes and beyond are given preference for NRE / IP licensing / investment from Samsung Digital Media & Communications (DMC) R&D. Business units such as Visual Display are largely interested in working closely with more mature startups with near-term solutions. We have a strong emphasis on application-specific technologies.

    Please describe your company’s Innovation model and how this model helps to find new innovations.

    Through Samsung’s global open innovation initiatives, we form partnerships with external collaborators from joint R&D development, proof of concept funding, IP licensing, strategic investment, to acquisition. We establish strategic relationships with industry and universities to assess the opportunities and benefits of new research trends and product categories. The ultimate goal is to acquire or co-create “deployment ready” technologies for Samsung business units – from Mobile, Visual Display, to Digital Appliance. Samsung has set up multiple open innovation offices, R&D centers and incubators in various countries to grow and partner with external businesses small and large.

    Why work with TechConnect and the National Innovation Summit as a technology prospector? Who are you looking to meet with?

    The breadth and depth of TechConnect’s technology network offers an efficient venue for Samsung to identify best-of-the-class inventions and to meet innovators, university TTOs and government agencies.

    What did you like most about the 2014 conferences?

    TechConnect provided the opportunity and ability to network with various conference attendees in order to learn more about emerging technologies. With so many diverse conference participants, we were able to connect and evaluate different technologies.  

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